Bar pin with changeable non-rotatably secured ornament and intermediate member

ABSTRACT

AN ARTICLE OF JEWELRY HAVING INTERCHANGEABLE ORNAMENTATION COMPRISING INTERCHANGEABLE SEPARATE DECORATIVE ELEMENTS AND INTERCHANGEABLE SEPARATE BASES WITH MEANS DEPENDING FROM THE DECORATIVE ELEMENTS THROUGH THE BASES AND LOCKING MEANS FOR HOLDING THE DECORATIVE ELEMENTS AND DECORATIVE BASES IN NON-ROTATABLE AND SUPERPOSED RELATION TO EACH OTHER. A BAR PIN IS ALSO PROVIDED   AND A RESPECTIVE ELEMENT AND BASE MAY BOTH BE NONROTATABLY SECURED THERETO BY THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED MEANS.

P 20, 1 B. CHALSON 3,605,4 3

7 BAR PIN WITH CHANGEABLE NON-ROTATABLY SECURED ORNAIENT AND INTERIEDIATE IEHBER Filed Sept. 10. 19 a Fla. 3

INVEN'I'UK. WM? @441'04/ United States Patent Office Patented Sept. 20, j 1 971 3 605 438 BAR PIN WITH CHANGEZABLE NON-ROTATABLY SECURED ORNAMENT AND INTERMEDIATE MEMBER Bernard Chalson, Lawrence, N.Y., assignor to William Chalson & Co., Inc., New York, N.Y. Filed Sept. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 758,792

Int. Cl. A44c 1/00 U.S. Cl. 63-20 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An article of jewelry having interchangeable ornamentation comprising interchangeable separate decorative elements and interchangeable separate bases with means depending from the decorative elements through the bases and locking means for holding the decorative elements and decorative bases in non-rotatable and superposed relation to each other. A bar pin is also provided and a respective element and base may both be nonrotatably secured thereto by the previously mentioned means.

The present invention relates generally to jewelry, and more particularly to a convertible article of jewelry having interchangeable attachments such as earrings, wherein a number of ornamental and decorative effects can be obtained utilizing the same basic article of jewelry.

In the past, owners of fine articles of jewelry such as gold, silver, platinum and diamond earrings and the like were compelled to have a number of entirely different earrings or the like, each of which was most complimentary to a particular clothing ensemble or hair style.

Accordingly, if the woman had a single pair of diamond earrings set in white metal which were drop type earrings, and the woman desired to wear her earrings with yellow gold jewelry there would be no way which she could wear the white metal with the yellow gold without there being a clash.

Similarly, if a woman had a pair of particularly valuable earrings set with numerous diamonds and precious stones, she might be restricted from re-wearing the same earrings with the same people since it would appear that these were her only pair of good earrings, and accordingly, to retain her status in the community and with her social set, she would be compelled to have several entirely different pieces of jewelry.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an article of jewelry which may be converted or modified from time to time so as to make a more utilitarian article of jewelry which could be worn more frequently without any feeling of repetition and without her peers realizing that it was the same article.

Further, it is an object of the invention to provide an article of jewelry wherein the same article of jewelry may be converted from earrings to a brooch, pendant or a pin having a single basic decorative element.

Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a convertible article of jewelry wherein the central portion thereof, which may consist of diamonds, sapphires, opals or the like, can be utilized with a multiplicity of decorative bases so as to 'be usable with a greater variety of ensembles.

Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a convertible article of jewelry which allows a woman to obtain greater utility from a particular single piece of jewelry.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide an article of jewelry which may serve as a basic article of jewelry to which various additional articles of jewelry can be added at later or separate times which would be fully compatible with the basic article of jewelry.

Still further, it is an object of this invention to provide a convertible article of jewelry 'which will be simple to manufacture and easy to use and which will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, the only limitations on manufacturing costs stemming from the cost of the metal and the precious and semi-precious stones such as diamonds, sapphires and the like.

These, together with the further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the specification continues by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an earring comprising the article of convertible jewelry of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an assembled earring comprising the convertible article of jewelry of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane of line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the earring comprising the convertible article of jewelry of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of an assembled embodiment of the earring illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of a convertible article of jewelry; and,

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the assembled convertible article of jewelry as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a convertible article of jewelry, namely an earring which is generally designated by the numeral 10. The earring is composed of three basic parts, namely a decorative element 12, a decorative base 14 and securement or locking means 16.

The decorative element 12 is provided with a shank portion 18 which depends outwardly from the rear of the decorative element and is further provided with means 20 for positioning the decorative element 12 in superposed fixed relation to the decorative base 14. In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the means 20 for positioning the decorative element 12 with respect to the decorative base 14 consist of a plurality of artistically curved extensions 22 radiating outwardly from the central portion of the decorative element 12. The decorative base 14 is provided with corresponding extension receiving means or cups 24 into which the means 20 positioned on the extensions 22 fit. A through bore 28 is provided in the decorative base 14 through which the shank 18 of the decorative element 12 is passed.

As the shank 18 of the decorative element 12 is inserted in the through bore 28 of the decorative base 14 the rearward portions of the curved extensions 22 fit into the corresponding receiving cups 24 in the decorative base 14 thereby preventing rotation or dislodgement of the decorative element 12 with respect to the decorative base 14.

After the convertible article of jewelry 10 has been assembled by placing the shank 18 of the decorative element 12 through the through bore 28 of the decorative base 14 the earring or article of jewelry is ready for insertion through the object upon which the article of jewelry is to be worn. To place the article of jewelry on the object upon which it is to be worn the shank 18 is passed through the object and after the shank 18 has been passed through the object the locking means 16 are placed on the shank '18. The locking means 16 are then advanced up the shank 18 until the decorative base 14 is drawn against the decorative element 12 and the locking means 16 are in abutment with the object upon which the convertible article of jewelry 10 is worn, thereby maintaining the article of jewelry in the proper assembled condition. The locking means 16 are removable at will from the shank 18 thereby permitting repeated assembly and disassembly of the convertible article of jewelry.

It is to 'be understood that the decorative element 12 may be formed in any shape desired and that the same may be ornamented with precious and semi-precious stones which have not been shown in any ornamental configuration as may be desired.

Further, it is to be understood that the decorative base 14 need not be formed of a solid material, but that the same may also be provided with decorative cut-outs or with precious and semi-precious stones as may the decorative element 12.

Additionally, the decorative element 12 may be worn without utilizing the decorative base 14 by merely inserting the shank 18 through the object upon which the convertible article of jewelry 10 is being Worn and inserting the locking means 16 upon the shank 1'8 and sliding the locking means 16 up the shank 18 until the base of the decorative element 12 is positioned against the decorative base 14 and the base 14 is against the object upon which it is being worn. J

The locking means 16 abuts the object upon which the article of jewelry is being worn and are removably securable to the shank 18.

Referring now specifically to the embodiment disclosed and illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a convertible article of jewelry namely an earring 110 which is comprised of three basic parts, namely a decorative element 12, a decorative base portion 114 and locking means 116.

The decorative element 112 is provided with a shank 118 which depends outwardly from the rear 130 of the decorative element 112. The decorative element 112 is further provided with positioning means 120 for positioning the decorative element 112 in superposed relation to the decorative base 114. In this embodiment the decorative base 114 may be formed having a plurality of artistically curved extensions 122 radiating outwardly from the centralportion of the decorative base 114 or in the alternative, the decorative base imay be formed in any desired shape. The base 114 is formed having a through bore 128 which is adapted to receive the shank 118 of the decorative element 112 which shank 118 is passed through said bore 128.

The decorative base 114 is further provided with a second bore 124 which is positioned at a fixed distance from the through bore 128, said second bore 146 being adapted to receive therein the positioning means 120. Once the decorative element 112 with the shank 118 has been inserted into the decorative base 114 through the bore 128 with the positioning means 120 seated in the bore 124, the convertible article of jewelry is ready to be placed on the object upon which it is to be worn. To accomplish this end, the shank 118' is then passed through the object upon which the article of jewelry is to be worn and the locking means 116 are advanced up the shank 118 until the decorative base 114 is drawn against the decorative element 112 and the locking means 116 are in abutment with the object upon which the convertible article of jewelry is worn, thereby maintaining the convertible article of jewelry in a proper assembled condition. The locking means 116, here again, are removably secured to the shank 118.

In this embodiment it is to be understood that the shape of the decorative element 112 is not limited to the form which has been illustrated in the drawings, and that the decorative element may be formed in any shape and design and that the same may be ornamented with an unlimited variety of precious and semi-precious stones and the like.

' Likewise, it is to be understood that the decorative base 114 can be formed of any material and that the same may also be provided with a distinctive shape and/ or fonmed with cut-outs and ornamented with precious and semi-precious stones.

Referring now specifically to the embodiment disclosed and illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown a convertible article of jewelry, namely a pin brooch or pendant 210, which is comprised of four basic parts; namely a decorative element 212, a decorative base portion 214, a locking means 216 and a pin assembly 232.

It is to be specifically understood that the pin assembly 232 may be utilized as a separate piece as illustrated in FIG. 6 or that in the alternative, the pin assembly 232 may be permanently affixed by known means such as soldering to the rear 215 of the decorative base 214.

The decorative element 212, which in this embodiment, is illustrated as a sail boat is not limited to the form shown, but to the contrary the decorative embodiment may be formed in any design. The decorative element 212 is provided with a shank 218 which depends outwardly from the rear 230' of the decorative element 212. The decorative element 212 is further provided with means 220 for positioning the decorative element 212 in superposed fixed relation to the decorative base 214.

It is to be understood that the decorative element 212 and the decorative base 214 may be formed with corresponding grooves or cups such as utilized in the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 which will serve as the positioning means 220, rather than the pin 220 and the bore 236 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the drawing of FIG. 6 the decorative base 214 is provided with a through bore 128 which bore is adapted to receive the shank 218 of the decorative element 212. A second through bore 224 is also provided in the decorative base 214 which bore 224 receives the positioning means 220. Once the decorative element 212 with the shank 218 extending from the rear 230 is inserted into the bore 228 with the positioning means 220 seated in the bore 224 the convertible article of jewlery 210 is ready to be placed on the object upon which it is to be worn. To accomplish this end, the shank 218 and the positioning means 220 are placed into coresponding bores 234 and 236 of a bar pin 232 thereby providing for means for attaching the article of jewelry to the object upon which it is to be worn.

At this time the locking means 216 are fitted over the shank 218 and are advanced up the shank 218 until the locking means 216 abut the rear portion 238 of the bar pin 232. At this time the decorative element 212, the base 214 and the bar pin are all in abutting condition secured in place by locking means 216 and the convertible article of jewelry 210 is ready to be affixed by means of the pin 231 to the object upon which it is to be worn.

By means of the present invention it is :possible for the decorative element 12 of FIG. 1 or the decorative element 112 to be utilized with the bases 14, 114 or 214 to vary the appearance and use of the article of jewelry. Likewise, it is contemplated that any decorative element can be utilized with any base to form a limitless number of combinations for use on any occasion in a variety of ways, such as for use as an earring, a pin, a brooch, a pendant or the like.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some in stances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

Iclaim:

1. A convertible article of jewelry comprising, in combination, a decorative element having a shank depending therefrom, said decorative element having positioning means including a pin extending downwardly in the direction of said shank, a decorative base having a plurality of through bores therein, said pin and said shank extending through said bores with said pin preventing rotation between said ornament and said base, a bar pin having a shank receiving bore and a pin receiving bore therein spaced to register with said base bores, said pin and said shank depending from said decorative element and said base being adapted to pass through said bores in said bar pin and locking means releasably securable on a portion of said shank extending beyond said bar pin.

2. A convertible article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein said shank is at least twice the thickness of said positioning pin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 63l2, 19 

